Yankees captain Aaron Judge continues his recovery journey from a right rib fracture, with his return to on-field baseball activities awaiting complete healing. In parallel, pitcher Clarke Schmidt has made significant strides, successfully throwing live pitches a year after his second Tommy John surgery. Adding to the team's medical updates, Max Fried, who has been sidelined with an elbow bone bruise, demonstrated encouraging progress in his recent minor league rehabilitation outing.
Baseball News: Judge's Injury, Schmidt's Comeback, and Fried's Rehabilitation
As of Saturday, July 18, 2026, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided an update on star slugger Aaron Judge's status, confirming that Judge is still in a holding pattern due to a first right rib fracture. Both Dr. Gregory Pearl, a Dallas specialist, and the Yankees' team physician, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, concurred on the need for continued healing before Judge can resume any baseball-related activities. Judge, despite feeling improved, is restricted to lower-body exercises until the fracture is fully resolved. Boone emphasized the importance of a cautious approach to avoid any setbacks that could jeopardize Judge's entire 2026 season. The team remains optimistic about his return to the lineup later in the season, with a third re-imaging appointment scheduled for a future date. Judge has been out of play since May 31 and was recently moved to the 60-day injured list to make room for Bradley Hanner's big-league contract signing.
In more positive news, pitcher Clarke Schmidt, one year and one week after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, successfully faced live hitters at Yankee Stadium. Schmidt reported feeling strong after his 15-pitch session against teammates Anthony Volpe and Ali Sanchez, marking a crucial step in his recovery. He is now on a consistent throwing regimen every four to five days and expressed a strong desire to contribute to the Yankees' 2026 pennant race in any capacity, whether as a starter or from the bullpen. Schmidt's rehabilitation has been described as seamless, benefiting from a less invasive internal brace surgery. During his session, he focused on fastballs, including sinkers, four-seamers, and cutters, deliberately holding back from his usual 94-mph velocity at the instruction of the training staff, although he did hit 95-mph during warm-ups.
Furthermore, Max Fried, who is recovering from an elbow bone bruise, showed promising results in his initial minor league rehab start on Friday night. Boone confirmed that Fried felt "really good" after pitching three innings and throwing 52 pitches at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Fried is scheduled for another start on Thursday, after which the Yankees will assess his readiness to rejoin the team's rotation.
The current news from the New York Yankees highlights the persistent challenges teams face with player injuries and the meticulous process of recovery and rehabilitation in professional sports. Aaron Judge's prolonged absence underscores the fragility of athletes' careers and the careful balance between aggressive recovery and long-term health. Simultaneously, Clarke Schmidt's successful return to live pitching offers a beacon of hope, demonstrating the resilience of players and the effectiveness of modern sports medicine. Max Fried's steady progress further illustrates the incremental steps required for a full return to competitive play. These narratives remind us of the dedication of athletes and the comprehensive support systems in place to get them back on the field, emphasizing that patience and adherence to medical advice are paramount for both individual players and team success.
